Chapter Fifty-Four: The Gathering Feast, An Ever-Growing Circle of Friends

Watching Choi Sooyoung’s deliberately crafted demeanor, and recalling Chen Zhe’s earlier description of his ideal type of girl, Victoria Song raised an eyebrow. Always observant and perceptive, she quickly guessed what Sooyoung was up to. Inwardly, Victoria couldn’t help but muse, Surely not—Chen Zhe and Little Dumpling are still underage by Korean standards, aren’t they? Isn’t it a bit premature to try to pair them up already?

She reflected on the reactions of Chen Zhe’s and Jung Soojung’s older sisters. Jung Sooyeon seemed indifferent to the matter—though Victoria was unaware of Sooyeon’s previous outburst—and her own good friend Chen Yuqi appeared quite supportive.

Remembering how Jung Soojung had acted towards Chen Zhe along the way, Victoria understood what she should do next. Just as Choi Sooyoung intended to play the matchmaker, she too would become an excellent wingwoman and help bring the two together.

“Wait a second, by Ah Zhe’s description, doesn’t that fit Soojung perfectly?” Having made up her mind, Victoria stroked her chin as if pondering, then suddenly clapped her hands and put on a look of sudden realization. Every gesture was perfectly executed, as though she genuinely had been deep in thought and had just found the answer.

“Indeed! I also think the type Ah Zhe described is exactly like Soojung!” Choi Sooyoung, who had been about to bring up the topic herself, was momentarily surprised that Victoria beat her to it. Her eyes lit up at once, and without hesitation, she chimed in, perfectly in sync with Victoria.

Upon hearing the two women, Chen Zhe raised an eyebrow. He realized he’d just acted on impulse, describing his ideal girl entirely based on the Jung Soojung he’d admired in his former life, and even said it right in front of Soojung herself, her group leader Victoria, and his own sister’s troublemaking best friend-cum-Soojung’s teammate, Choi Sooyoung.

To avoid saying anything else stupid and giving them more ammunition, Chen Zhe chose to remain silent. But to the three women observing him, his silence appeared as tacit agreement.

After Victoria and Sooyoung’s banter and seeing Chen Zhe’s apparent consent, Soojung’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red, with her ears beginning to turn pink as if she were about to catch fire. Though she said nothing, she too began to fret inwardly. Could what Mom V and Sooyoung unnie said really be true? Does Ah Zhe actually like me? Judging from his reaction, he seems to accept what they’re saying. But there’s a two-year age gap between us—I’m older than he is by two years. Isn’t that a little inappropriate?

The more she thought about it, the redder her face became. Watching the two flustered youngsters before her, Sooyoung stifled a laugh. Ha, my plan is working! Seems like Ah Zhe and Soojung might just become an item!

Having observed Chen Zhe and Soojung’s reactions, Victoria’s lips curled upward. She, too, was lost in thought: Looks like there’s hope for these two—an infatuated genius boy and an outwardly cold but inwardly passionate girl. I’m definitely rooting for this pair. Quietly, she began to devise ways to help them along.

——— A line divides the two who are being teased and matched ———

Time passed swiftly in their playful teasing, and soon everyone arrived at Mingyue Pavilion, a grand Chinese restaurant, gathering in a large private room.

“Ah Zhe, Soojung, come sit with me!” When Chen Zhe and his group entered the private room, they found the others already seated and the food ordered. The four of them were the last to arrive.

There were only four seats left—two beside Jung Sooyeon, and two next to Chen Yuqi and Im Yoona, respectively. Noticing the newcomers, Sooyeon beckoned to Chen Zhe and Soojung to come sit with her.

“Yes, Sooyeon noona.” “Yes, unnie.” Called over by the formidable Ice Princess herself, both Chen Zhe and Soojung dared not disobey and obediently walked over to her. Victoria was summoned by Chen Yuqi, while Sooyoung, without a moment’s hesitation, took the seat beside Im Yoona.

“What’s up with you two? Did Poison Choi do something to you?” Noticing how Chen Zhe and Soojung sat with hands on knees and heads slightly bowed, Sooyeon frowned, her brows forming a distinct ‘八’ shape.

“Jessica, don’t slander me with your nonsense!” Sooyoung, who had been secretly recounting to Yoona the fun she and Victoria had teasing Chen Zhe and Soojung in the car, was startled at being singled out by Sooyeon. For a moment, she panicked, fearing the two had tattled about what happened in the car and that the Ice Princess was about to lose her temper again. But on hearing Sooyeon’s words clearly, she relaxed and responded with renewed confidence.

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask Victoria or Ah Zhe and Little Crystal!” Knowing her own reputation with Sooyeon was in the negatives, Sooyoung thought for a moment, then decided to drag Victoria into it as well, and also pointed out the two youngsters who had been teased—determined to pull them down with her.

“Ah, yes, Sooyoung-sunbae is right. We really didn’t do anything!” Victoria, who had been chatting with Chen Yuqi, was caught off guard by Sooyoung’s sudden attempt to implicate her, and felt the weight of Sooyeon’s and the others’ gazes. For a moment, she was at a loss, but after catching Sooyoung’s urgent signals, she quickly composed herself and backed her up, confirming that the two had done nothing to Chen Zhe and Soojung.

“Soojung, Ah Zhe, is what Poison Choi said true?” Though skeptical of Sooyoung, Sooyeon was willing to accept Victoria’s word. Still, to be safe, she decided to ask the two involved directly.

“Yes, noona (unnie), Sooyoung noona (unnie) and Victoria noona (unnie) really didn’t do anything to us!” To Sooyeon’s surprise, Chen Zhe and Soojung answered in unison. Aside from the difference in how they addressed her, their words, tone, and even gestures were exactly the same.